"The fracturing of the Spirit World, huh."
"I can't believe something like that happened."
After returning to Duel Academy, Chazz and Jaden's minds were still consumed by the enormity of the Spirit World's collapse.
Especially after learning that the Spirit World was actually still slowly and continuously fracturing to this day, both of them felt compelled to do something.
But forget about them. Even Hikaru, who had known in advance, and Banner, who had known even earlier, along with top-tier spirits including Aleister the Invoker, were all completely in the dark about what had actually happened.
This was genuinely terrifying. Because according to them, even the Dark Magician of the Spellcaster Domain didn't know what had occurred.
The strongest magician in the truest sense didn't know!
So after testing Chazz and Jaden's abilities and feeling reassured, Banner prepared to continue his investigation deeper alongside Aleister.
During his "lifetime," he hadn't had the stamina or energy to pursue the truth. Now, having become a spirit, he worried about his students. But after witnessing their growth, his concerns eased, so he simply told Chazz and Jaden about the Spirit World situation before departing to investigate.
A reunion after over a year, only to face what might be an even longer separation. This left Jaden slightly melancholic. Fortunately, after experiencing Zane's departure, he had come to terms with such things. He simply made Banner promise that once the crises in their world were resolved, they would go join him.
Hikaru, meanwhile, looked at the new Quintet Magician in his hand.
This card was Banner's current true "vessel." As long as Hikaru held this card, even if Banner encountered danger in another dimension, he could use its coordinates to evacuate quickly.
Perhaps that was one advantage of becoming a spirit.
In any case, Banner had entrusted this card to Hikaru. On one hand, Hikaru was the student he trusted most. On the other, only Hikaru's Deck could actually use it.
Jaden's Deck did contain Spellcaster monsters, but assembling Quintet Magician's Fusion Materials would be far too difficult.
Hikaru's Deck, on the other hand, was practically overflowing with Spellcasters.
This left Jaden quite disappointed, since he had also wanted to use Banner's card.
"There'll be a chance eventually." Hikaru answered with a smile.
"Sigh."
Jaden slumped onto the table, deflated.
Hikaru opened the Emerald Tablet and skimmed through it.
According to Banner, the dimensions he had specially marked were all ones that "may have had contact with" or "were currently being influenced by" the mastermind. The Eldlich dimension, for example.
The Eldlich dimension in this world was one Banner had personally explored. Since it was also a famous dimension for alchemical research, Banner had always been interested. But upon arriving, he discovered that Eldlich the Golden Lord had gone mad for some unknown reason. It was only with Banner's intervention that Eldlich gradually regained his sanity.
After that, Eldlich became his close friend and had been steadily gathering strength, preparing for "revenge."
If nothing unexpected intervened, based on Banner and Aleister's analysis, the Eldlich dimension was likely one of the locations that had been "struck head-on." That was why Eldlich the spirit had gone berserk, just like in the card artwork.
Although the Eldlich dimension currently showed no signs of ongoing influence, or perhaps precisely because it had taken a direct hit, it was now one of the locations farthest from the "mastermind." Regardless, the Eldlich dimension remained extremely dangerous. Many spirits inside had been directly affected. Apart from Golden Captain, Golden-Eyes Idol, and a few other spirits who had joined later, virtually none could abandon their responsibilities and leave their dimension to follow Hikaru. So Banner didn't recommend Hikaru going there.
Of course, if Hikaru wanted to earn Eldlich's recognition and obtain some special alchemical materials, he could give it a try.
Beyond that, the Dark World was also one of the danger zones. Banner strongly advised against Hikaru going there, but if he truly wanted to challenge himself, it wasn't entirely out of the question.
The one and only dimension Banner was truly, unconditionally opposed to Hikaru visiting was:
Ecole de Zone!
Hikaru rubbed a card while continuously stroking his chin.
"Ecole de Zone was the epicenter of the dimensional fracturing. And it was the dead center!"
The dead center!
Even more central than where Eldlich had been. It was the initial point of the fracture, the location most deeply affected by the mastermind. Banner had once reached that dimension, but after taking just one look, he had retreated at light speed.
His conclusion at the time was "a dimension humans must never enter" and "visual and mental devastation that the human body cannot withstand." Even now, having transformed into a top-tier Spellcaster spirit, Banner still felt lingering dread.
Because even he, the world's greatest alchemist, had been "infected" by the "art" upon entering that dimension. He had even entertained the thought of abandoning alchemy and devoting himself to painting!
That was pure horror, because he had spent his entire life studying alchemy. He was alchemy's chosen child!
And yet even he had been swayed!
So even now, he wouldn't consider returning to Ecole de Zone anytime soon.
On one hand, the danger level was too high. On the other, Ecole de Zone was currently the "deepest layer" of all spirit dimensions. It was certainly the most heavily affected dimension, but by the same token, it was also the farthest from the mastermind.
Only after exploring other dangerous dimensions and coming up empty would he consider setting foot there again.
"It's really that dangerous?" Hikaru stared at the card in disbelief.
"Are you telling me that dimension could make you walk in and forget about Fusion to pursue art? I don't buy it." Tierra quipped from the side.
"But if Professor Banner says so, there's probably no other explanation, right?" Hearing Tierra's remark, Jaden scratched his head. "But a Hikaru who abandons Fusion and gets obsessed with art? I can't even imagine it."
Chazz nodded in agreement.
He couldn't picture it either. But conversely, if the Ecole de Zone dimension could accomplish something like that, it was absolutely forbidden territory for humans.
If even a Fusion duelist of Hikaru's caliber could have his mind wiped clean, any other duelist who went there would probably never return.
Hikaru leaned back in his chair, letting his body relax.
Having finally accomplished his long-standing goal, he felt a sudden lightness in his chest.
From now on, he wouldn't need to keep striving to find the Three Sages, earn their approval, and travel to the Spellcaster Domain. With this experience under his belt, maybe he could visit more casually in the future. At the very least, Dark Magician Girl was quite approachable. Next time he went, he should have time to find The Iris Swordsoul and ask her some questions.
And since he had freed up that goal, Hikaru could finally visit the Gladiator Beast and Vampire dimensions next.
The door swung open without warning. Hikaru and the others looked over to see Serena and Lulu.
"Huh, Master? You're back?!"
Hikaru quickly sat up straight and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Well." Serena looked slightly embarrassed. Lulu beside her couldn't help lowering her head, looking like a child who had done something wrong.
The three exchanged glances.
Chazz asked with a touch of PTSD, "Serena, you're not planning to sneak off to another dimension by yourself again, are you? And drag Lulu along this time?"
"No, no!" Serena waved her hands frantically, looking sheepish. "It's actually like this..."
She explained.
As it turned out, Professor Crowler had brought the visiting branch campus professors to tour the Fusion Division. They had finished the first floor and were now on the second. Serena found it boring and troublesome, and was afraid Crowler might spot her and make her "perform" in front of all those professors, so she wanted to find somewhere to hide.
Nowhere was better for hiding than a conference room marked "Meeting in Progress," so the two of them had simply ducked inside.
Clearly, they planned to play some cards, avoid the crowd, and wait until everyone left.
Fair enough.
Even Hikaru occasionally hid from teachers when he wanted some peace and quiet. They were students, after all.
And Serena and Lulu were two years younger. More playful, more normal.
"Professors from other schools, huh?" Hikaru thought for a moment. "All right, stay hidden in here and keep quiet. I'll go take a look."
"Really?! Thanks, Master!" Serena cheered.
Hikaru stood up. Chazz and Jaden thought it over, then got up too. Both were interested in the upcoming global Duel Academy exchange. Jaden in particular was excited about meeting new and interesting people, so they were keen to check things out.
Leaving the conference room, the three headed downstairs. They ran into Professor Crowler right away and hurried over with a wave.
Their uniforms were each a different color: red, black, and blue. The trio arriving together immediately drew every professor's attention.
Hikaru and Chazz, the GX tournament champion and runner-up!
And who was the one in the red uniform?
"Professor Crowler!" The three rushed over with greetings.
Hikaru did a quick scan and spotted the person he expected: Professor Viper.
He didn't know whether Viper had already struck a deal with Yubel, but after a couple of glances, Hikaru didn't notice anything suspicious.
Crowler saw his three students appear and eagerly began introducing his prized pupils to the visiting professors. Most of the professors kept their eyes on Hikaru, but Professor Viper's gaze kept drifting toward Jaden, clearly paying him close attention.
However, this first encounter didn't lead to any real interaction. The professors simply followed Crowler through the Fusion Division tour. Eventually, amid Chazz and Jaden's bickering and horsing around, the group gradually filed out. And just as Jaden and Chazz were roughhousing, Jaden shuddered violently again and couldn't help but pull his clothes tighter.
Hikaru noticed these details. He figured it had arrived.
Yubel.
He didn't know where she was hiding, but she had clearly reached this island.
Hikaru stretched.
It seemed it was time to see just how far the members of his Fusion Division had grown over the past year.
As the professors departed, Hikaru couldn't help limbering up.
Although Hikaru had always believed that "everyone has their own affairs and goals, and there's no need to interfere," he never meddled in what others chose to do.
But there were a few exceptions he would deliberately involve himself in.
One was Leo Akaba. Leo Akaba had made Hikaru feel disgusted and irritated.
The other was Yubel. Knowing the "original story," Hikaru understood that even if he wanted nothing to do with Yubel, she would inevitably target him from every angle as Jaden's "closest friend."
Bring it on.
So it was time for him to prepare as well.
To deal with the second known agent of the Light of Destruction, out in the open.
But before that, there was one last thing he needed to do this summer.
The next day, Hikaru received a phone call. A private jet arrived at Duel Academy. Hikaru boarded with curiosity, thanked the person who arranged it, and asked about the destination.
But even the pilot didn't know the final destination. He only knew he was to take Hikaru to Domino City.
Upon arriving in Domino City, Hikaru laid eyes on that legend among legends, the legend above all legends, the strongest duelist, the greatest gamer, the man who never loses, the King of Duelists:
Yugi Muto!
The instant he saw him, Hikaru assumed he was about to duel this master. Though shocked, he felt a thrill of excitement.
Dueling the truly strongest in this world, possibly the strongest across all dimensions. Even losing would be worth it!
But soon, noticing the sketchpad and other supplies Yugi carried on his back, Hikaru realized his opponent this time was probably not Yugi Muto.
The two boarded a KaibaCorp private jet, transferred to another location, and flew from noon until the afternoon. Finally, in a place blanketed in yellow sand, they reached their destination.
It was only then that Hikaru learned who the opponent was for this duel against a "legendary duelist," the opportunity Rex Raptor had arranged for him.
The Gravekeeper clan!
Hikaru's heart skipped a beat.
During the GX tournament, a Gravekeeper duelist had appeared, but at the time, Hikaru had assumed it was simply a Gravekeeper who had ventured out on an adventure.
But now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
It appeared that, without Hikaru's knowledge, Seto Kaiba and Yugi Muto had already reached some kind of agreement or partnership with the Gravekeeper clan.
A gust of sand blew past. Several figures slowly emerged from hidden places. People with an exotic air gradually appeared before Hikaru. Among them, one dark-skinned, bald figure commanded Hikaru's full attention.
Yugi Muto smiled gently and whispered to Hikaru, "Well, Hikaru? An opponent I found just for you."